Publications in Scientific Journals:
M. Schmid, A. Garhofer, J. Redinger, F. Wimmer, P. Scheiber, P. Varga:
"Unusual Cluster Shapes and Directional Bonding of an fcc Metal: Pt/Pt(111)";
Physical Review Letters,
107
(2011),
0161021
- 0161024.
English abstract:
Small clusters of Pt adatoms grown on Pt(111) exhibit a preference for the formation of linear chains, which cannot be explained by simple diffusion-limited aggregation. Density functional theory calculations show that short chains are energetically favorable to more compact configurations due to strong directional bonding by dz2 -like orbitals, explaining the stability of the chains. The formation of the chains is governed by substrate distortions, leading to funneling towards the chain ends.